APHIS Regulated Garbage Compliance Agreement ApprovalTemplate 

The purpose of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

regulated garbage regulations is to protect American agriculture and natural 

resources by preventing the introduction and spread of foreign plant and animal 

pests and diseases. All APHIS regulated garbage must be handled and disposed 

of in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture, APHIS 

policies, which are written in support of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 

Title 7 CFR 330.400 through 330.403 and Title 9 CFR 94.5. 

The Plant Protection Act and the Animal Health Protection Act provides 

authority to USDA to assess penalties for violations of regulations (7 USC § 

7734 and 7 USC § 8313). Any person who knowingly violates the Plant 

Protection Act (PPA) (7 USC § 7701 et seq) and/or Animal Health Protection 

Act (AHPA) (7 USC § 8301 et seq), may be criminally prosecuted and found 

guilty of a misdemeanor which can result in penalties, or a one-year prison 

term, or both. Additionally, any person violating the PPA and/or the AHPA 

may be assessed civil penalties of up to $594,129 per violation or twice the 

gross loss or gain, resulting from the violation, whichever is greater. 

Establishments (e.g. companies, business organizations) interested in handling 

regulated garbage must submit a letter of request for approval to handle 

APHIS regulated garbage (see example) along with the information requested 

below, as applicable. See also the Procedure to Request Approval to Handle 

Regulated Garbage.

Establishments must comply with other Federal, State, and local requirements. 

APHIS cooperates with other Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for 

enforcing other statutes and regulations governing APHIS-regulated garbage.

When Is Garbage Regulated?

APHIS Regulated Garbage: Garbage becomes regulated by APHIS per 

definition in 7 CFR 330.401 and 9 CFR 94.5 (c) when generated onboard the 

conveyance (ocean vessels and aircraft) only when the garbage is on or 

removed from the conveyance. Commingling: Garbage, trash or other material 

not regulated by APHIS that is or has been commingled with regulated 

garbage is also regulated garbage.

Notes

 APHIS regulates garbage when it is aboard or removed from a means of

conveyance that has been in any port outside the United States and

Canada within the previous two-year period or to any port in Hawaii or

any United States territory or possession in the last one-year period.

PPQ FORM 519A 

JUN 2022 Initials Date 1

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 

information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0579-0054. The time required to 

complete this information collection is estimated to average 3 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

OMB APPROVED 

0579-0054

EXP 09/2022 

United States Department of Agriculture
 Trash is refuse that neither contains nor is visually contaminated with

APHIS regulated garbage. Trash is not regulated by APHIS and is

therefore unrestricted. For example, trash that solely contains empty soda

cans would be unrestricted. Newspapers and magazines in the passenger

cabin would also be unrestricted unless commingled with regulated

garbage.

 The currently approved methods of disposal (processing) for regulated

garbage are use of a sterilizer, incinerator1

, or grinder.2

Core List of Requirements to Handle APHIS Regulated 

Garbage

Please ensure you have thoroughly reviewed the following core requirements, 

in addition to completing the establishment request for approval template 

(checklist) below.

1. Establishment Operating Procedures: A description of how the regulated

garbage will be contained, handled, and transported in tightly closed/

sealed, covered, leak-proof receptacles (e.g., plastic bags of at least 3 mil

thickness or permanently labeled containers) and a description of the

color,3 tag, or label associated with plastic bags that uniquely identifies the

regulated garbage handled by your establishment. See Guidelines for

Writing Operating Procedures for Handling APHIS Regulated Garbage.

 Uneaten meals on aircraft must be handled as regulated garbage,

unless they are under compliance agreement for back-catering.

 Garbage, trash or other material not regulated by APHIS that is or has

been commingled with regulated garbage is also regulated garbage.

Equipment: Equipment (including, but not limited to receptacles such as 

dumpsters and compactors)4 used to move/store unprocessed regulated 

garbage must: 

 Be inaccessible to birds, rodents, insects, and other vermin.

 Be closed 3 mil leak-proof plastic bags if bags are the method of

containment.

2.

1

2

3

Incinerators must reduce garbage to ash (other than metal and glass). 

APHIS will advise if any alternative methods are approved.

Red receptacles (including plastic bags, trash cans, carts or any containers similar in size or shape 

to those used for medical waste) must not be used for APHIS regulated garbage.

4 Vehicles used to transport the regulated garbage must be enclosed with rigid cover.

2 Initials Date 06/2022

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP personnel.

NOTICE

To stay up to date with any changes in the regulated garbage program, sign up for 

the APHIS Stakeholder Registry.
 Be uniquely identified outside the container and if words are used,

marked with “REGULATED GARBAGE” or a similar acceptable

phrase in English and any appropriate foreign language. If approved,

the APHIS compliance agreement holder must ensure that these

“Regulated Garbage” markings be displayed at all times during the use

of such receptacles for Regulated Garbage activities includingstoring/

hauling per the compliance agreement. Containers used for regulated

garbage with evidence of contamination with regulated garbage must

be cleaned and disinfected according to APHIS requirements.

Be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with APHIS requirements

before being decommissioned, only if there is evidence of

contamination with regulated garbage. The containers must also:

(a) Not be used for any material not regulated by APHIS, unless the

container’s markings have been removed; (b) Have markings

obliterated if used for a purpose other than storage or hauling of

regulated garbage; (c) Be moved off the establishment’s property to be

repaired or decommissioned.



3. Compliance Agreement: Once approved, the establishment must maintain

and abide by a valid APHIS approved compliance agreement (PPQ Form

519). The regulated garbage compliance agreement Request for Approval

Packet consists of the PPQ Form 519 and all addenda, including the request

for approval and operating procedures.

APHIS/CBP officials must be allowed to observe, during regular

operational hours, all regulated garbage handling activities performed

by all employees and subcontractors under the approved compliance

agreement holder. All records required by this agreement must be

made available to APHIS/CBP officials upon request.

Storage: Once received by the establishment, regulated garbage must not

remain in the establishment’s possession for more than 120 hours without

prior approval in writing from the APHIS Administrator (i.e., regulated

garbage must be processed or hauled within this time frame).

Spill Kits/Cleaning and Disinfection: The dock area and the area around

grinders, sterilizers, incinerators, compactors, and/or dumpsters must be

kept clean and free of loose garbage at all times. All wooden surfaces in

garbage handling areas (including storage areas and inside transport

vehicles) must be treated so that surfaces are impervious to water and can

be cleaned and disinfected. If a spill occurs, it must be disinfected using an

APHIS authorized disinfectant. Refer to APHIS Authorized Disinfectants

For Use When Handling APHIS Regulated Garbage. Note: For regulated

garbage contamination on aircraft and in all food handling areas, cleaning

and sanitation should only be done with an EPA approved sanitizer/

detergent.

4.

5.

Date 3

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

06/2022 Initials
6. Record Keeping: (see Guidelines for Regulated Garbage Record-Keeping

and examples below:

 APHIS Regulated Garbage Training Record

 APHIS Regulated Garbage Collection Log

 APHIS Regulated Garbage Spill Log5

Establishment Training Program: Follow the Guidelines for the Regulated

Garbage Written Training Program including the You Tube video No Free

Ride. 

Notification of Changes: If an establishment makes changes or is aware of 

changes needed that deviate from the APHIS approved compliance 

agreement, the RG CA holder must immediately notify the local CBP or 

PPQ office.

Establishments requesting approval to process regulated garbage must use 

one of the following APHIS approved processors: 

7.

8.

9.









Sterilizer6 

Incinerator 

Grinder 

Other equipment/technology approved by APHIS for regulated 

garbage

10. The area surrounding the establishment must be kept in generallyclean

condition.

11. For updates to APHIS electronic documents, visit the APHIS Regulated

Garbage website.

12. If transporting regulated garbage across State lines, the establishment must

produce evidence of written communication with Federal, State, and local

agencies regarding requirements for interstate transport of garbage. Refer

to Procedures for Companies Requesting Approval to Transport Regulated

Garbage Interstate.

NEXT: Proceed to the checklist below to continue your 

request for approval.

How to request an amendment to an approved regulated garbage 

compliance agreement (RGCA): If you are approved to handle regulated 

garbage under an APHIS regulated garbage compliance agreement and wish to 

make changes to the administrative/operational information in the originally 

approved RGCA, you must submit a letter of request for an amendment to 

APHIS, using this template to reflect the applicable changes.

5

6

This log sheet is used for disinfection or disinfection/sanitation.

The thermocouple/data logger and the sterilizer thermocouple must be calibrated annually by an 

authorized source (eg. technician/manufacturer).

4 Initials Date 06/2022

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP personnel.
5

A. ALL ESTABLISHMENTS/REQUESTERS Current Status 

(Check One)

1. Does the establishment have leak-proof receptacles (including plastic bags at

least 3 mil thick and/or containers)? Y N N/A

2. Does the establishment have an existing approved regulated garbage

compliance agreement?

Y N N/A

3. Is this request for approval to add a regulated garbage handling activity to an

existing approved regulated garbage compliance agreement?

Y N N/A

4. Have employees reviewed/viewed the required APHIS regulated garbage

training/videos?

Note: All employees must be trained prior to handling APHIS regulated

garbage, and must review the training annually or as often as government

officials require. Records are required to be kept on file for three (3) years.

Y N N/A

5. a. Will regulated garbage be stored, locked, and secured on thepremises?

b. Is there a documented pest control program for rodents, birds, and other

vermin?

c. Are tightly covered, leak-proof receptacles readily available for use to store

APHIS regulated garbage?

d. Are all containers marked as required by the compliance agreement

(including but not limited to REGULATED GARBAGE)?

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Name of establishment/company (Unit #): 

Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Phone: _ Email address:

Name and title of establishment representative:

Date:

Specific location requesting approval for: 

APHIS will approve the compliance agreement to handle and/or process APHIS regulated garbage if the 

establishment meets all applicable APHIS requirements in this template.

Type of regulated garbage handling activities (check all applicable categories): 

Back-caterer Cleaner Caterer

Hauler/Cartage Firm Fixed Base Operator Storage/Transfer Station

Vessel (including Cruise Ship Operator)  Military Base Processor

Date

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

06/2022 Initials
6 Initials Date 06/2022

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP personnel.

A. ALL ESTABLISHMENTS/REQUESTERS (continued) Current Status 

(Check One)

6. Is a spill kit that meets APHIS requirements readily available to address

surfaces contaminated with regulated garbage? Please provide a photograph

of the spill kit and items to clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces as outlined

in the document APHIS Authorized Disinfectants for Use When Handling

APHIS Regulated Garbage.

Note: A spill/disinfection/sanitation log is required to be kept on file for three (3)

years, noting any spill and subsequent cleaning anddisinfection/sanitation.

Important! The regulated garbage compliance agreement holder must

immediately notify CBP and/or APHIS officials anytime contamination occurs

outside of your establishment.

Y N N/A

7. Do you understand and concur that any article, means of transportation for offloaded regulated garbage from the conveyance (air/maritime) or other surfaces,

including but not limited to carts, pallets, machinery, handling containers, trucks,

dock or warehouse surface contaminated with regulated garbage spills, must

be cleaned and disinfected?

Y N N/A

8. Do you agree to clean after each use all reusable tools/equipment used for

handling regulated garbage spills over a drain leading to an approved sewage

system or directly into a receptacle (i.e., containment tank, plastic bag) for proper

disposal?

Y N N/A

9. Does the establishment have a written local regulated garbage operating

procedure?

Attach a copy to the request for approval.

Y N N/A

10. Has the establishment submitted record keeping logs (e.g. spill/disinfection/

sanitation log, training log, garbage collection log)?

Y N N/A

11. Do you understand and agree that in the event the establishment is unable to

conduct regulated garbage handling activities, or is ordered to suspend its

regulated garbage handling activities, then you will be required to immediately

notify local CBP/APHIS officials, and all your customers of your temporary or

permanent inability to handle regulated garbage activities?

Y N N/A

12. Does your establishment understand and agree to comply with all core

requirements?

Y N N/A

13. Will recycling materials be separated prior to offloading the conveyance and is

it specified in the operating procedures?

Note: Materials co-mingled with APHIS regulated garbage must be handled as

regulated.

Y N N/A

14. NEXT: PROCEED to the request for approval questions specific to the type of regulated garbage service you are

applying to provide.

15. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above

requirements to handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide

additional information in the Comment Section.

16. Did you review the core requirements with the requester?

Y

Y

N

N

17. Note: To facilitate monitoring, establishments can provide advance notification to the APHIS/CBP office at

(phone number) of any offloads or pickups of regulated garbage.
7

C. HAULERS (Cartage Firms) Current Status 

(Check One)

1. Are the APHIS-approved containment areas in vehicles and/or receptacles used

for transporting regulated garbage also used for material that is not regulated by

APHIS (for example, domestic garbage or medical waste) and are handling

requirements outlined in the operating procedures?

Y N N/A

2. Do vehicles used to transport regulated garbage meet APHIS requirements? Y N N/A

3. If regulated garbage will be moved off of port/establishment premises, has a map

or route been submitted?

Y N N/A

4. Is the establishment aware that they must comply with other Federal, State, and

local agency requirements having jurisdiction over transporting garbage?

Important: If not, advise that APHIS regulated garbage compliance agreement

approval does not exempt the establishment from complying with other regulatory

agencies.

Y N N/A

5. List pickup companies/locations in the Comment Section of Checklist.

6. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

7. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to

handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information

below.

Y N

B. CLEANERS, CATERERS, FIXED BASE OPERATORS Current Status 

(Check One)

1. If providing service inside the aircraft or in food handling areas, does the

establishment have an EPA approved sanitizer for use in aircraft or in food handling 

areas acceptable to the owner/operator of the air/maritime conveyance?

Y N N/A

2. If washing reusable dishware, glassware, silverware and/or trays, does the

establishment use an automatic dishwasher as required?

Y N N/A

3. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

4. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to

handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information

below.

Y N

Date

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

06/2022 Initials
1 The airline, aircraft owner/operator is responsible for locking/securing/safeguarding conditions of the meals allowed for 

back-catering.

Materials commingled or contaminated with regulated garbage will be treated as regulated garbage and must be offloaded 

from the conveyance in accordance with APHIS RG handling requirements.

2

1 Stevedores or longshoremen must be under the direct supervision of a trained employee or trained subcontractor under the 

approved regulated garbage compliance agreement when handling regulated garbage for the vessel.

8 Initials Date 06/2022

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

E. VESSELS Current Status 

(Check One)

1. Is the regulated garbage maintained in covered, leak-proof receptacles inside the

rail while on-board the vessel as required?

Y N N/A

2. Are any regulated garbage activities of the stevedores or longshoremen outlined in

the vessel’s operating procedures as required?1

Y N N/A

3. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

4. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to

handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information

below.

Y N

D. AIRCRAFT BACK-CATERER1 Current Status 

(Check One)

1. Does the establishment agree to the following:

 Aircraft will depart from the U.S. airport at which it arrived to a foreign destination

within 3 hours of the time of arrival

 Aircraft personnel will maintain tamper-proof (breakable seal) compartments,

cabinets, storage areas and carts in which the materials authorized for backcatering will be kept

 Aircraft personnel will ensure that the meals are not removed from the

conveyance unless they are removed by an establishment under an RG CA or

by direct observation and handled as regulated garbage

 Aircraft personnel will maintain separation of materials authorized for backcatering to prevent cross-contamination or commingling with regulatedgarbage2

Y N N/A

2. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

3. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements

for back-catering? If no, ensure you also provide additional information below. Y N
1

2

The sewage system cannot be a septic tank or storage lagoon.

Verification of calibration of the autoclave or non-pressurized cooker must be conducted by CBP or PPQ at least every six 

months and after repairs or significant malfunctions.

9

F. PROCESSORS

(Grinders/Sterilizers/Incinerators) Current Status 

(Check One)

1. For grinders:

a. Is the grinder directly connected to an EPA-approved sewagesystem?1

b. Are there other disposal methods in place for materials that cannot be

processed by grinding? If yes, explain in the Comment Section of the Checklist

how the regulated materials not processed by grinding arehandled/processed.

Y

Y

N

N

N/A

N/A

2. For sterilizers:

a. Have the thermocouple/data logger and the sterilizer thermocouple been

calibrated by an authorized source (e.g. technician/manufacturer)?

Important: If yes, present a copy of the certificate.

b. Has CBP or PPQ verified the calibration of the autoclave or non-pressurized

cooker?2

Note: The internal garbage temperature (not the chamber temperature) must be 

at least 212 oF for at least 30 minutes.

c. Is a working thermocouple or other necessary equipment for verification of

calibration available for determination of required temperature?

Important: Records for time and temperature on each batch must be verified that 

they have met minimum requirements. If minimum requirements are met, the 

records are initialed and dated by the operator, then signed by the supervisor. If 

minimum requirements are not met, the batch must be immediately reprocessed.

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N/A

N/A

N/A

3. For incinerators:

a. Is all garbage reduced to ash (other than metal and glass)?

b. In the comment section, describe the procedure for identifying and re-burning

regulated garbage not burned to ash during the initial processing.

Note: Ensure that the Guidelines for Regulated Garbage Record Keeping are 

being followed.

Y N N/A

4. Is the area surrounding the processing equipment kept in generally clean

condition?

Y N N/A

5. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

6. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to

handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information

below.

Y N

Date

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

06/2022 Initials
Comment Section

ALL ESTABLISHMENTS 

Comments from the checklist requiring further description, to include items that require 

action, if any: 

OperatingProcedures (see Guidelines forWriting OperatingProcedures for Handling APHIS 

Regulated Garbage and attach separate pages as 

10 Initials Date 06/2022

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP personnel.

G. STORAGE ESTABLISHMENTS Current Status 

(Check One)

1. Is/are the storage facility(ies) properly marked, including receptacles, buildings,

sheds, or any exterior structure hosting smaller receptacles, and that each

containment device will be clearly marked with “REGULATED GARBAGE”?

Y N N/A

2. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.

3. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to

handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information

below.

Y N
Request for Approval Packet

In addition to this request for approval packet, please also attach the following information to the 

establishment letter of request to handle APHIS Regulated Garbage (insert number of pages for each 

item below):

1.

2.

3.

Establishment Operating Procedures, including back-up system ( pages) 

Establishment Training Program ( pages)

Establishment Record-Keeping Documents (APHIS Regulated Garbage (a) Training Record; (b) 

Collection Log; and (c) Spill/Disinfection/Sanitation Log) ( pages)

(If applicable) Calibration Information ( pages) 

(If applicable) Cartage route/map ( pages)

(If applicable) Any other addenda locally specific to the establishment orport ( pages)

4.

5.

6.

By signing this Compliance Agreement, the signatory acknowledges that information concerning his/ 

her establishment, including but not limited to the name of the establishment, location of 

establishment, and contact information with phone numbers, will be included on lists of APHIS 

approved regulated garbage handlers that are available to the public.

Printed Name of Establishment Authorized Employee

EstablishmentAuthorized Employee Signature and Title Date

Printed Name of Agency (CBP/APHIS) Official

CBP/APHIS Official Signature and Title Date

A copy should be provided to the establishment employee.

Check applicable box below:

Copy Provided at Visit Copy Will Be Provided After Visit By E-mail By FAX By Mail

11

Deficiencies resolved at the time of inspection:

Yes No

Deficiencies/violations noted (attach separate pages as necessary):

Time allowed to correct deficiencies not immediately resolved:

Date

Do not initial and date the bottom of each page of this template until you are advised by either APHIS or CBP 

06/2022 Initials